In His Perfect Timing

I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
~ Psalm 40:1 ~

To keep in step with God’s perfect will, we must guard against jumping ahead of Him. Although waiting on the Lord is not always easy, we can never go wrong by patiently letting Him lead us according to His timing. When we step ahead of Him, trouble awaits us, but if we trust His guidance, He will lead us into His will and accomplish more than we had in mind.

When we are in a hurry to make a decision and move forward rather than seeking God’s timing, we need to heed the words of Psalm 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.”

God’s timing isn’t just good; it’s perfect. He is omniscient and knows all things in the past, present, and future. The Lord sees every aspect of our lives, including our needs and desires. In His great wisdom, He understands what’s best for us. His divine schedule for our lives is always perfect and achieves His good purposes.
~ Charles Stanley – God’s Perfect Timing: Staying In Step With God ~

A young gentleman prayed for Patience. He soon found himself attracted to and courted a young gal. He prayed to God for patience again and the two found themselves married. As this man continued in his faith and relationship with God, he kept praying for patience. Each time, the Lord blessed him with a child. After their sixth child was born, the gentleman finally came before God and prayed, “I know understand patience.”

This is one of the hardest virtues to understand. As I pray to an omniscient God I know he is able to help at any given moment. I know that he who defines himself as “love” and gave his son for me is not reluctant to help. So when I ask such a God to intervene in my circumstances, why is there often a delay?

Nowhere in the scriptures does God promise me instant answers to my prayers. His promises for answered prayer are amazing and reassuring, but none of them includes a timetable. He only assures me that he is never too late. Yet in our impatience, we don’t want an answer that is simply “not too late.” I sometimes desire an immediate answer. I have needs and do not understand why those needs must be prolonged.

Despite this, God has his reasons. Perhaps my needs are being prolonged because they are accomplishing something in me that nothing else will. Perhaps they are being prolonged because God is doing a necessary work in the life of someone else who is involved in my situation. Perhaps he is teaching me about prayer or perfecting my faith. Maybe he is even letting me identify with Jesus in the fellowship of his sufferings – it is, after, all, his overarching purpose to conform us to the image of Christ. How can we be conformed if we have no identification with his pain?

Sometimes God will make clear that my answer is delayed because the delay will further his work in my own heart or in another area. Sometimes he gives me no reason at all. A mindful Christian’s wise response, in either case, is to know that if I am waiting on God, there must be a vary good reason. And if I wait in faith and expectancy, the wait will be amply rewarded. God’s timing is always perfect.

What are you waiting on the Lord for? What struggles and challenges are you facing that brings you to seek God’s wisdom and counsel? How do you maintain assurance of faith and confidence in knowing His will be done in your own life? Has impatience with God caused you to doubt and question your own faith?

Please share your thoughts on today’s devotion about patience and waiting upon the Lord by commenting below. Share this with others through your social media networks. Subscribe for more daily inspiration and messages. And please consider partnering and sponsoring us by providing a financial donation to help support our endeavors.

Thank you – Damascus Way Recovery